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| Anne's work on needles |
| Mexico socks 'Nuther pair for Chris, an ever-appreciative recipient. |
| Spice Cross-over cardi/top from Jaeger no 9 in dusty pastel stripes, 30 ish colours, random. |
| Finished projects 2002
Welly socks Variegated socks Brown wool socks Lime cotton socks Red variegated socks Light blue cabled socks Cream gansey socks Black jacket Red scarf Project Linus Stripy |
| Fantastic sites for sock knitters |
| Socknitters homepage An amazing site including cyberclasses in sock knitting, patterns, tips, technical help and masses of inspiration. |
| Toe index Different types of sock toes to knit. |
Katherine DeMoure-Aldrich
An amzing, inspirational sock knitter. |
Threadbear Fiberarts - Web-based business in Bloomington IN, run by Matt and Rob. Beautiful yarns selected by those friendly, enthusiastic, creative, experienced knitters. | Software for designers |
| Knitware Design The best programme I have found, and excellent value. |
 Is it the 13th already? I've joined in the Phildar #378 knitalong with Alison at the Blue Blog. Yippee! Haven't asked Toz her opinion, but this one I know she will like. I could always knit it a size larger and adopt it if she doesn't fancy it. But she won't fancy it a size larger anyway... What happened to 'Spice'? I hear you cry. What happened to what? Ah yes, the stripy one. Well, it's coming along slowly. As are the Mexico socks. I shall have a big push to finish them, then *absolutely not* cast on any more socks until at least two other items are finished. Fingers crossed for my willpower. I am sockaddicted, you know.10th May 2003 Mexico sock has now advanced a couple of inches down the ankle. I may use a little of the grey heel and toe yarn as one of the 'stripes' as I am nervous about having enough yarn to finish.  I have just received three Phildar pattern books (in French - what a delight!) and am intrigued by one of the designs for a 'pull'. The body and neck are exactly the same shape, with the sleeves attached dead centre down the garment... so you can wear it upside down. There is a deep ribbing at one end and a plain cast off / on at the other, and it looks great each way. I may make it for Toria. It's the one on the right. I may even go as far as rewriting the pattern for finer yarn. Double knitting (3.75mm needles) is the thickest I am happy with, so the yarn will have to have some substance to hold a shape that may go very floppy.
Cricket update: The U17s national championship match yesterday went very well and we beat Surrey comprehensively. When I got there, Sussex were 137 ALL OUT! which was not good at all... but enter Toz and her opening bowler mate, and Surrey were soon 5 for single figures off 6 or 7 overs. Laura (England U17s) got the first wicket (bowled) and Toria then got another bowled, then a hat trick (LBW, bowled, bowled). Having ripped the top order batsmen apart, it was only a matter of time to get them all out for fifty-something. Toz' figures were phenomenal: 9 overs, 5 maidens, 4 wickets, 9 runs. Laura was something like 9 - 4 - 1 - 14. I would not like to face either of them - they bowl a very nippy ball with plenty of variation. If you have ever had the misfortune to catch some England women's cricket on T.V., be aware that the youngsters coming up are of a MUCH higher standard. If you are into Harry Potter knitting, Sue has a new leaflet to order online. Scroll down to find it listed. Due to stocktaking, all orders will be processed on 19th - 20th May. 9th May 2003 Well! Two clients in one day have encouraged me - out of the blue - to have a go at spinning. I feel a slippery slope coming on. The worst or best bit is that I have discovered an alpaca farm very close to us at Glyndebourne, just by the opera house. Oh dear. I went there this afternoon, nobody there, but peering through a window I spied what must have been hundreds of fleeces in all different alpaca hues. The beasts themselves are gorgeous, and they have a camel as well, who seems to have quite a bit of character. Or is it a dromedary. It's got two humps, I never can remember which is which. Anyway, I have emailed them (Atlantic Alpacas) to see whether they do fleeces for the general (smitten) public. They have a "shearing application form" on their site which looks dangerously as if they are inviting you to shear your own. I can say quite categorically that having dabbled a little here and there with animal husbandry (well, a cow and her calf), alpaca wrestling is not for me. Somebody else will have to do it. The first mexico sock is finished with grey heel and toe, and the second is started. Stitch by stitch. Toria is playing somewhere in Surrey tomorrow. Presumably against Surrey. Shouldn't take more than 90 minutes to get there, famous last words. 6th May 2003 Metaknitting. The underlying philosophy of the craft. I knit because I knit, or because I enjoy the process or because I desire the finished object? No. And yes. All of these and none of them would keep me knitting into my old age. From time to time I lose the real reason for knitting and make do with one or a combination of the others. But the others don't do nearly as well as the real thing. Say I lose sight of the raison d'être of the craft and knit out of discipline... then I find that the flavour of the activity is watered down. Then I look at my vision for the finished object, and the thousands of stitches needed to make it happen appear far too many, and I lose heart. So, what was it at one time that was so addictive? Knit stitch by stitch, be in the present with each stitch. Enjoy each stitch for its own sake. The final outcome is a by-product, whereby the excellence of texture, colour and fit are part of the excellence manifest in the execution of each stitch. Knitting is for me a type of meditation, a means of focusing on the present moment to the exclusion of all else. (Now I remember why knitting with small children around is so painful - then aiming for the finished item makes up for the precious moments of focus lost). Even a few rounds can ground me again and make me mindful of what is really important in life. 5th May 2003 Sussex U17s thrashed Essex U17s yesterday, despite a half strength team. For those who enjoy cricket scores, Essex were 68 all out in 27.2 overs (Toria 3 for 11 off 5, batsmen 2, 3 and 4) and Sussex got the runs for 4 wickets in a very leisurely 24 overs, in which they tried to steer a 13 year old to her 50 (Toria 0 not out for AGES), but Holly got the runs almost by mistake in a total of 47 not out for herself. 4th May 2003 Well, it's May, and not much knitting done. Cricket has started, so I am ferrying youngest to county matches at weekends. Weather has been very good. I sense I shall be slipping into a knitting malaise, if I am not very careful. I'm too busy, can't calm down. I'd sit and knit a few rounds now, only I have to find out how to get to Bognor Regis by 1pm. Why are they playing at Bognor??? |
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 Explore a quality, original, independent web site here: Crowing Ram Knitblog from Bloomington, IN. Very funny, and not just about knitting. |
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| Click on the title for more information and to order online from the UK or the US |
| Reading now: Pilates Body in Motion - Alycea Ungaro Very clear guidance through the authentic Pilates method for body conditioning. The Way of the Wizard - Deepak Chopra Lovely little book with 20 stories about the wizard's way. The Client - John Grisham Have got stuck with this one - may have to start it again. Very well written. |
Knitting now:
The Knitting Experience Book 1: the Knit Stitch
Sally Melville YES - It's been reprinted! The first in a series starting with garter stitich. The Knitters across the pond are raving about it, talking about "charming, clever designs", "classic, modern, hip" and "great sense of style". Absolute beginners and seasoned knitters are smitten! US shoppers click here: The Knitting Experience Book 1 
Jean Frost Jackets This is fantastic for those of us wanting something a little more formal. Jean Frost has provided us with 21 patterns for jackets and shaped cardigans suitable for the office, most in double-knit and fine aran - only one bulky! She creates interesting fabrics in solid colours or multi-colour slip stitch. These jackets have sharp stying and are classy enough to stand the test of time. This will become a classic on my shelves. US shoppers click here: Jean Frost Jackets |